Freight bracing apparatus



Jan. 12 1965 F. B. MILLER FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1961 INVENT R. flej Z M7 67- Jan. 12, 1965. F. B. MILLER 3,165,075

FREIGHT BRACING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15. 1961 2 Shoet-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 7512i 3 7.

United States Patent 3,165,075 FREIGHT BIRAQKNG APPARATUS Fred B. ldiller, Livonia, Mich, assignor to Evans Prodr nets Company, Plymouth, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 15, 1% Ser. No. 131,624 Claims. (Cl. 165-369) therealong and crossbars extending transversely of the,

vehicle and connected at its opposite ends to the belt rails.

More particularly the present invention relates to an improved freight-bracing apparatus of the type shown in the copending application of Henry L. Dunlap, Serial Number 836,168, filed August 26, 1959, now Patent Number 3,071,086. In some conditions of use of the apparatus there shown it has been found that the end fitting will he accidentally disconnected from the belt rail. Also, it has been found that the end fittings have not always remained properly connected to the belt rail sections which are carried on the doorway members which are mounted in and extend across doorway openings.

Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved cross member end fitting cooperable with the belt rail members to provide an improved connection thereto which overcomes these defects.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved end fitting having an improved mounting for. the latch which more accurately locates it and facilitates better engagement with the belt rail.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved end fitting construction having improved means for transferring loads on the pins longitudinally of the belt rails to the end fitting body member.

Other and more detailed objects of the present inven' tion will be appreciated by those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a broken plan view of freight bracing apparatus embodying the present invention and showing to some extent diagrammatically, a crossbar extending between belt rails secured to opposite sidewalls .of arailway boxcar;

FIGURE 2 is a broken enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1 taken substantially along line 2-2 thereof showing the connection of the end fitting to a fixed belt rail disposed in a normal vertical position;

FIGURE 3 is a broken sectional view similar to FIG" wardly extending support flange Z4 having a' support URE 2 but showing the connection of the end fitting to v a belt rail carried on a doorway member which has been rotated through a small angle so that the 'belt rail is inclined to the vertical;

FIGURE 4 is a broken side elevational view of the left hand end fitting as viewed in' FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the end fitting illustrated in FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrow 5 and showing a broken section of belt rail in broken lines; and FIGURE 6 is a broken plan view of the end fitting illustrated in FIGURE 4.

While it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the improvements of the present invention may be readily incorporatedin freight bracing apparatus of widely ditfering types and sizeshaving numerous applications, the improvements of the present invention are herein illustrated and described .as embodied in apparatus for supporting and bracing general merchandise in railroad boxcars.

Referring to the drawings, the railroad boxcar sidewalls are diagrammatically represented at 10 and 12 and carry belt rails 14 which are of theconstruction shown and described in greater detail in the above-mentioned copending application. As there disclosed the sidewalls carry a plurality of belt rails disposed in vertically spaced parallel relation and extending horizontally therealong. The belt rails on opposite sidewalls 10 and 12 are disposed at corresponding levels so that a crossbar 16 ex tending therebetween will be disposed horizontally. In accordance with conventional practice the crossbar 16 includes a fixed end fitting 18 illustrated atthe left end of the cross bar 16 as viewed in FIGURE 1 and a telescopic end fitting 23 at the right end of the crossbar as there viewed. The connection of these end fittings 18 and 29 to the crossbar body 22 as well as the construction of the latter form no part of the present invention and may be of any suitable construction such for example as that disclosed in the above-mentioned application.

The belt rails 14 are of the same construction disclosed in the above-mentioned application and include an upend fitting includes" a body member 32 the outer end portion of which is yoke-shaped withhorizontallyspaced arms 34. Extending across the. tops of the arms 34 is a cap 36 which is welded to the body member 32 and has an opening 37 extending vertically therethrough As best illustrated in FIGURE 2 the cap 36 extends outwardly beyond the ends of the yoke arms 34 and includes a downwardly facing support surface 38 adapted to engage the belt rail supporting surface 26 to support the end fitting thereonand a depending hook til adapted to extend between the flange 24 and. the sidewall to hold the end fitting against pulling away from the sidewall in a direction at right angles thereto.

Each end fitting also includes a latch42 which is mounted within the opening 37 of the cap 36 and extends downwardly between the yoke arms 34. The upper p er-- tion of the latch 42 includes a pair of projecting ears 44 having aligned apertures as therethro'ugh receiving a pivot 7 pin 48 which is mounted in and extends transversely of the cap 3%. The fit of the apertures 45 on the pivot pin- 48 is such that thelatch 42 is freely slid'able longitudinally" of the pin 48. In spaced relation below the mounting projections 44 the latch 42 carries apair of 'spaced parallel latch pins 5%) adapted to project into selected ones of the apertures 39 in the belt rail 14 and when so disposed to be engageable with the belt rail 14 around the periphery of the apertures Sfito both hold the endfitting against movement longitudinally of the belt rail 14 and to hold the end fitting against upward movement relative to the belt rail as is necessary to move the hook 40 of the cap 36 from between the belt rail flange 24 and the adjacent side wall. intermediate the latch pins 59 and the mounting projections 44 a leafspring-SZ acts between the latch 4-2 and the-body member 32 to urge the latch 42 in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 48 as viewed in FIGURE 2.

32 between the-yoke'arms 34. r

I At 'the lower portion; of the latch .142:- and extendin'g In the preferred construction illustrated one end of'the spring 52 is riveted to the latch 42 and v the other end bears against the end; fitting body member t- 1 What is claime'd is:

generally in the opposite direction from the latch pins 5b is a projection SdIadapted to the engaged by a worker for pivoting the latch 42 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 48, as viewed in FIGURE 2, against the action of the spring 52. The latch 42 may thus be moved by the worker to the retracted position illustrated in broken lines in FlGUREA. It will be noted that in this retracted position the outer ends of the latch pins St) do not extend beyond the plane there indicated by the line A and which is definedfby the lower outer end portions of the yoke arms 34. 7 When the end fitting is connected to a belt rail disposed in the normal position mentioned above way.members to support belt rail sections of various.

shapes'is well known and the doorway member 5'7 may be of any suitable construction. Because these doorway members must be removable to enable loading and unloading ofthebo xcar they cannot be welded in fixed position. The mountings of these doorway members because of necessary tolerances and because "of'wear in use allow for some limited rotary movement 'of the doorway member from its normal position in which the belt rail flange 2-4 and portion 28 extend vertically, to for examplethe position illustrated in FlGURE 3 in which the flange 2% and portion 28 are inclined relative to the vertical. Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that when the e'nd'fitting is connected to a belt rail disposedas there illustrated the latchl2isdisposed with'the latch pins 5d extending slightly upwardly and with the annular shoulder surfaces 56 parallel'gto andfully engaging the belt rail portion 28 in the'same manner as in the normal operative positionillus trated in FIGURE 2.

Movement ot the latch in a clockwise direction beyond its normal operative position. best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and4 is limited by cooperatingstops 58' and 60 provided on the latch 42 and on the inner sides of the yoke arms 34. The spacing between thesestops in the normal operative position is clearly illustrated'in FIGURES 4 and I The limiting position in which these stops are engaged is illustrated in FIGURE 3. This may also be referred to as the free positionof the latch'since it is the position to which the f-sp'ring 52 urges the latch '42 when it is not, connected to a belt rail.

' The latch 42, as best'illustrated in FIGURE 5, is provided on opposite sides thereof, adjacent the pins 5% with flats 62 whichj'extend at-the same angle as the draft angle on the lower portion of the inner surface of the yoke arm 34;. This surface is indicated atd in FIGURES. These flats o2 and the yoke arm surfaces 64 constitute cooperating abutments through which loads on the latch pins Sit .in eitherdirection along the axis of the pivot pin 48 will be directly transmittedthrough theseabutrnents'to the yolre' arm 34 of the end fitting body member 32,,the fit 1 of the latch projection apertures-46 on the pivot pin 48 being, as stated heretofore, such that thelatch moves freely. along the pivot pin until the abutments 62 and 641 engage.

f While only onespecific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail herein itlwill bereadilyappreciateclby those skilled in the art that numerous modificationsand changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

.11. 'In an, apparatus for supportirig'and bracing general merchandise in freight "cars and thelike, a crossbarend fitting comprisinga body memberhavingmeans at one side thereof for connecting said end fitting to an associated crossbar, said body member including a yoke portion having spaced arms extending in opposed relation to said means and a cap overlying and secured to the top of said yoke portion and defining an opening extending transversely of said body member and communicating with the space between said arms, said cap extending beyond the outer end of said arms of said yoke portion and including a hook portion including a support surface for supporting said end fitting on an associated support member and having an anti-pullaway surface extending substantially at right angles to said support surface for engaging behind a part of said associated support member to prevent said end fitting from pulling away therefrom, a latch member disposed within said opening and between said arms of the yoke portion of said body member and having a latch pin extending in generally opposed relation to said connecting means, means mounting said latch member on said body member for movement relative thereto between a retracted inoperative position a normal operative position in which the axis of said latch pin is disposed parallel to said support surface for engaging said support member when the latter is in its normal position and a fully extended position disposed beyond said normal operative position in a direction away from said retracted position, and means engaging said latch member and urging it toward said fully extended position.

2. A crossbar end fitting as defined in claim 1 including pin means mounting said latch on said end fitting between said arms of said yoke portion and for free sliding movement longitudinally of said pin means, ice-operating abutment surfaces on said latch adjacent said latch pin and on said arms of said yoke portion for limiting movement of said latch longi udinally of said pin means whereby loadsapplied to said latch through said latch pin are directly transmitted through said abutment surfaces to said was spaced arms of said yoke portion of said body member.

3. A crossbar end fitting as defined in claim 1 for connecting one end of a freight bracing crossbar to an associated support member as recited in cliim l which associated support member includes a flange providing said support surface and said anti-pullaway surface and inclu es a spaced portion coplanar with said flange and having latch apertures therelhrough and wherein said latch has a shoulder adjacent said latch pin adapted to engage said spaced portion or said associated support member adjacent one of said apertures therein and including means urging said latch in a direction away from said retracted position and co-operating stop means on said latch ad acent said latch pin and on said spaced arms of said yoke portion preventing movement of said latch in said direction beyond said fully extended position.

4. A crossbar end fitting for connecting one end of a freight bracing crossbar to an associated supporting belt rail having a support flange including a support surface and an anti-pullaway surface and a coplanar spaced portion having latch apertures therethrough, the belt rail be ing mounted for limited rotary movement to and from a normal position in which said flange and said spaced portion are disposed vertically, said end fitting comprising means at one end for connecting said end fitting to said crossbar and means at the other end for connecting said end fitting to said belt rail. said last named means comprising a hook on said end fitting adapted to hook over said belt rail flange for engaging said support surface and said anti-pullaway surface and including a hook support surface adapted to engage said support surface of said flange, a latch having at least one latch pin adapted to selectively extend into the apertures of said belt rail for holding said hook hooked over said belt rail flange, and means mounting said latch on said end fitting for pivotal movement to and from a retracted position and for pivotal movement between said retracted position, a normal operative position in which said latch pin extends parallel to said hook support surface and a fully extended position disposed beyond said normal operative position in a direction awayfrom said retracted position whereby said latch pin may extend through said aperture at right angles to said spaced portion of said belt rail in all positions of said belt rail throughout said limited rotary movement thereof.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein said latch has a surface adjacent said latch pin extending at right angles thereto adapted to engage said spaced portion of said belt rail, cooperating stops on said latch and on said end fitting adapted to engage each other to stop said latch upon movement thereof beyond said normal operative position in a direction away from said retracted position when said latch reaches a fully extended position, and means urging said latch toward said fully extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,425,875 Hermann Aug. 19, 1947 2,576,425 Thearle Nov. 27, 1951 2,817,549 Fahland Dec. 24, 1957 2,879,722 Dunlap Mar. 31, 1959 2,887,963 Dunlap May 26, 1959 2,896,554 Johnston July 28, 1959 3,071,086 Dunlap Jan. 1, 1963 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND BRACING GENERAL MERCHANDISE IN FREIGHT CARS AND THE LIKE, A CROSSBAR END FITTING COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER HAVING MEANS AT ONE SIDE THEREOF FOR CONNECTING SAID END FITTING TO AN ASSOCIATED CROSSBAR, SAID BODY MEMBER INCLUDING A YOKE PORTION HAVING SPACED ARMS EXTENDING IN OPPOSED RELATION TO SAID MEANS AND A CAP OVERLYING AND SECURED TO THE TOP OF SAID YOKE PORTION AN DEFINING AN OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID ARMS, SAID CAP EXTENDING BEYOND THE OUTER END OF SAID ARMS OF SAID YOKE PORTION AND INCLUDING A HOOK PORTION INCLUDING A SUPPORT SURFACE FOR SUPPORTING SAID END FITTING ON AN ASSOCIATED SUPPORT MEMBER AND HAVING AN ANTI-PULLAWAY SURFACE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID SUPPORT SURFACE FOR ENGAGING BEHIND A PART OF SAID ASSOCIATED SUPPORT MEMBER TO PREVENT SAID END FITTING FROM PULLING AWAY THEREFROM, A LACTH MEMBER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID OPENING AND BETWEEN SAID ARMS OF THE YOKE PORTION OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND HAVING A LATCH PIN EXTENDING IN GENERALLY OPPOSED RELATION TO SAID CONNECTING MEANS, MEANS MOUNTING SAID LATCH MEMBER ON SAID BODY MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO BETWEEN A RETRACTED INOPERATIVE POSITION A NORMAL OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH THE AXIS OF SAID LATCH PIN IS DISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID SUPPORT SURFACE FOR ENGAGING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER WHEN THE LATTER IS IN ITS NORMAL POSITION AND A FULLY EXTENDED POSITION DISPOSED BEYOND SAID NORMAL OPERATIVE POSITION IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID RETRACTED POSITION, AND MEANS ENGAGING SAID LATCH MEMBER AND URGING IT TOWARD SAID FULLY EXTENDED POSITION. 